[Order 24-52—Filed April 9, 2024, 3:40 p.m., effective May 16, 2024]

Effective Date of Rule: May 16, 2024.

Purpose: Opens recreational shrimp harvest in waters of Puget Sound.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-330-070.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

Reasons for this Finding: This regulation is needed to ensure an orderly fishery, manage the fishery within court-ordered sharing requirements, and meet conservation objectives. Harvestable amounts of spot shrimp are available, but recreational shares will only support a limited number of open days in Marine Areas 8-1, 8-2, 9, 10, 11, and 12. In addition, this emergency regulation opens the seasons in Marine Areas 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, 5, 6, and 7 one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, which is the default daily start time and end time for those areas. Marine Area 13 will remain closed to spot shrimp harvest for conservation reasons. There is insufficient time to adopt permanent rules.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: April 9, 2024.

WAC 220-330-07000WShrimp—Areas and seasons.

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-330-070, effective May 16, 2024, until further notice, it is unlawful to fish for or possess shrimp taken for personal use in all waters of Marine Areas 4 (east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line), 5, 6, 7, 8-1, 8-2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and the Discovery Bay Shrimp District, except as provided for in this section:

(1) Marine Areas 4 (east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line) and 5: Open daily for all shrimp species beginning May 16, from 1 hour before official sunrise to 1 hour after official sunset, until further notice.

(2) Marine Area 6 (excluding the Discovery Bay Shrimp District): Open for all shrimp species from 1 hour before official sunrise to 1 hour after official sunset on May 16 through 18, May 30 through June 1, June 13 through 16, June 28 through 30, and July 12 through 15.

(3) Discovery Bay Shrimp District: Open for all shrimp species May 17 from 9:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m..

(4) Marine Area 7 South: Open for all shrimp species from 1 hour before official sunrise to 1 hour after official sunset on May 16 through May 18. Only that portion of Marine Area 7 South that is west of a line projected due south from Point Colville on Lopez Island and east of a line projected due south from Cattle Point on San Juan Island, will open from May 30 through June 1.

(5) Marine Area 7 East: Open for all shrimp species from 1 hour before official sunrise to 1 hour after official sunset on May 16 through 18.

(6) Marine Area 7 West: Open for all shrimp species from 1 hour before official sunrise to 1 hour after official sunset on May 16 through 18, May 30 through June 1, June 13 through 15, June 28 through 30, and July 12 through 14.

(7) Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2:

(a) Open for all shrimp species May 16 and May 30 from 9:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m..

(b) Divers may take shrimp by hand or hand-held device from 7:00 p.m. until midnight on May 16 and May 30 in Marine Area 8-2.

(8) Marine Area 9: Open for all shrimp species May 16 from 9:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m..

(9) Marine Area 10: Open for all shrimp species May 16 from 9:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m..

(10) Marine Area 11: Open for all shrimp species May 16 from 9:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m..

(11) Marine Area 12: Open for all shrimp species May 17, May 18, May 30, and June 15 from 9:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m..

Reviser's note: The typographical errors in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.